Author name: Marc Alexander

News/Legislation: Immigration Attorney Reforms Closer To Enactment, Law School Applications Drop, ABA Ethics Opinion Allows Lawyers To Fee Share With Non-lawyers In Certain Cases, And Career Education Corp. Settles Inflated Job-Placement Case

In The News, Legislation

  California Immigration Attorney Reforms.      As reported by Chapman Law School graduate and columnist Frank Mickadeit in the August 23, 2013 edition of The Orange County Register, AB 1159 (a bill winding through the California Legislature) seems to be getting closer to enactment. Although subject to change, this bill would require–under its 16th version–California […]

Civil Rights/Reasonableness Of Fees: $109,977 Fee Award To Civil Rights Plaintiff Winning About $18,000 Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Civil Rights, Cases: Reasonableness of Fees

  20% of Requested $549,885 Deemed Fair By Both Trial and Appellate Courts.      Although strict proportionality of fees is not the governing standard for awards to winning civil rights plaintiffs, the lack of success and inflated fee requests are important “checks” which can result in a greatly reduced fees award.      That is what

Costs/Prevailing Party: Lower Court Did Not Abuse Discretion In Denying Dismissed Defendant Costs When Dismissal Expressly Predicated On Each Side Bearing Own Fees/Costs

Cases: Costs, Cases: Prevailing Party

  Be Careful in Saying “Thank You.”      HPSC, Inc. v. Tiffany, Case No. D061142 (4th Dist., Div. 1 Aug. 19, 2013) (unpublished) is a situation where one defendant was dismissed upon an oral motion after a summary judgment argument, with the court expressly indicating the defendant was dismissed upon the condition that both sides

In The News . . . . Long Beach Female Firefighters Settle Over Lack Of Changing Facilities, With City To Pay $48,859 In Attorney’s Fees As Part Of Settlement

In The News

       Tony Saavedra, in an August 19, 2013 article in The Orange County Register, reports that the City of Long Beach has settled a suit brought by female firefighters claiming they had to change in hallways and use portable toilets outside the station because the city refused to provide them with their own facilities.

Costs: Appellate Costs Properly Assessed

Cases: Costs

  Even Though $368,588 Was Substantial Award, It Was Justified.      One of the things many respondents want during an appeal is a bond or undertaking to “secure” the judgment while the matter is winding its away through the appellate process. That makes sense from several perspectives, but there is a downside as the next

Private Attorney General: 85% Reduction In Requested Fee Award Was No Abuse Of Discretion, Although Dissenting Justice Disagreed With Some Cuts

Cases: Private Attorney General (CCP 1021.5)

  CCP § 1021.5 Benefit And Economic Interest Factors Satisfied–CEQA Winner Awarded $56,459.16 Out of Requested $668,386 in Fees.      For you readers following private attorney general fee awards under CCP § 1021.5, North Sonoma County Healthcare Dist. v. County of Sonoma, Case No. A134862 (1st Dist., Div. 4 Aug. 14, 2013) (unpublished) is an

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